Pooley Bridge and Ullswater
Pooley Bridge is just 5 miles from junction 40 on the M6 and sits on the edge of Ullswater in the Lake District, Cumbria. The village takes its name from the bridge that spans the River Eamont at the northern end of Ullswater.
The bridge has been a lifeline around Ullswater for centuries. It was erected in 1764, replacing an earlier bridge from the 16th century. In January 1991 it became Grade II listed.
The iconic 18th century stone bridge stood for over 300 years but was ripped away during the December floods of Storm Desmond in 2015. A temporary bridge was opened March 2016 before the new permanent stainless-steel bridge costing over £5million was opened in October 2020 – almost 5 years after the devastating floods.
Across the bridge, the road sweeps along the edge of Ullswater, passing the pier from which ferries (known as the Ullswater ‘Steamers’) provide connections to Glenridding and Howtown.
Pooley Bridge caters well for visitors and locals alike. Chestnut House is in the heart of the village with a bus stop right outside and numerous pubs and cafes and hotels all around us with stunning views across the river and Ullswater.
It is also the home of Granny Dowbekins Café, which is right by the bridge, but more importantly, it’s the home of the gingerbread we sell.
Plan a trip to ‘Pooley’ next time you come to Cumbria and remember – there’s a warm welcome from our shop too.
As a momento of your trip to Pooley Bridge, you can take home our specially commissioned Pooley Bridge jigsaw (2 jigsaws in 1 featuring the old and new bridges), a fridge magnet – or even the tastiest of treats – Granny Dowbekins Pooley Bridge Gingerbread
